" In 1979, the Supreme Court ruled 5-3 in Smith v. Maryland that a few days’ worth of phone records for a single individual were not protected by the Fourth Amendment. The NSA today, though, collects hundreds of millions of phone records from hundreds of millions of Americans without an individualized warrant. "
- Rand Paul

In 1979, a significant decision by the Supreme Court in Smith v. Maryland established that an individual's phone records for several days were not covered under the Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable searches and seizures. This ruling allowed law enforcement to obtain such records without needing a warrant based on probable cause. However, fast forward to today, the National Security Agency (NSA) collects vast amounts of data involving hundreds of millions of Americans' telephone communications, far beyond what was initially addressed in that Supreme Court case.

The quote underscores the stark difference between what the law permitted decades ago and the current reality of how personal information is being monitored by government agencies. It highlights a growing concern about privacy rights in the digital age, where surveillance capabilities have expanded significantly since 1979. The implication is that while earlier court decisions might have been relevant at the time they were made, technological advancements and changes in societal norms have rendered them inadequate to address contemporary issues of mass data collection by government agencies.

The quote was delivered by Senator Rand Paul, a vocal advocate for individual liberty and privacy rights. Known for his libertarian views, Paul frequently speaks out against what he perceives as overreach by the federal government into personal lives through various surveillance programs. His comment reflects broader concerns among civil liberties advocates about how technological advancements are affecting traditional notions of privacy in legal frameworks established decades ago.